Personal Law: Veterans - Guides
Veterans
9. Disability Pensions
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Last updated: 27 Aug 2015
- The disability pension is paid in order to provide compensation, financial support or reward for valour in the course of duties. It is non-taxable and is paid to compensate veterans for the cause or aggravation of injuries or diseases as a result of their Australian Defence Force (ADF) service. The entitlement amount will depend on your level of incapacity.
- There are four rates of disability pension available:
- general rate;
- extreme disablement adjustment rate;
- intermediate rate; and
- special rate.
- The higher rates such as the special and intermediate rates are payable where you are either severely incapacitated or unable to earn a normal wage because of the impact of your condition on your capacity to work. The extreme disablement adjustment rate may be payable if you are at least 65 years old are not entitled to receive the special or intermediate pension rate.
- As with the service pension there are a range of supplements and allowances that may be paid in addition to the base disability pension.
- The attendant care allowance assists a veteran to pay for an attendant to help with daily activities such as feeding, bathing and grooming. The allowance is payable to veterans with service-related amputations, blindness, brain and spinal cord injuries, diseases or with conditions similar to these in effect or severity.
- If you are eligible for this allowance you will have your attendant care needs professionally assessed by an occupational therapist. These assessments consider matters such as the nature of your injury or disease and whether you can care for yourself. Because circumstances can change your needs will be reviewed on a regular basis. This will ensure that the type and regularity of care continues to meet your changing needs.
- Payment for attendant care is normally through reimbursement. In situations where you are in need of long term care or are unable to meet the necessary upfront costs the DVA can arrange to be invoiced directly by the attendant care provider. You will need to discuss this with DVA directly.
- The clothing allowance is paid to help entitled veterans pay for modifications and wear and tear to clothing for example in the event that you are suffering from service-related amputations or blindness. This allowance can also be paid to veterans undergoing treatment that causes exceptional wear and tear or damage to clothing.
- The loss of earnings allowance compensates eligible veterans for loss of salary, wages or earnings in situations such as where a veteran is receiving medical treatment for service-related disability or has exhausted their sick leave due to a service-related disability.
- The recreation transport allowance is paid to veterans suffering from severe disabilities that affect their mobility. The allowance is designed to improve veteran access to recreational activities.
- The vehicle assistance scheme is designed to financially assist eligible veterans with the purchase of a car and any required modifications. The vehicle assistance is payable to veterans with amputations, complete paraplegia or similarly severe conditions.
- The decorations allowance is payable to veterans who have received an eligible decoration providing that they are eligible for a disability pension.
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